Markandeya Purana

सा जातहारिणी नाम सुघोरा पिशिताशना । तस्मात् संरक्षणं कार्यं यत्नतः सूतिकागृहे॥५१.

She is called the birth-taker, fierce and flesh-eating; therefore, protection must be diligently ensured in the lying-in chamber.

स्मृतिञ्चाप्रयतानाञ्च शून्यागारनिषेवणात् । अपहन्ति सुतस्तस्याः प्रचण्डो नाम नामतः॥५१.

Due to the neglect of memory and the dwelling in empty houses, her son, known as Pracaṇḍa, destroys.

पौत्रेभ्यस्तस्य संभूता लीकाः शतसहस्रशः । चण्डालयोनयश्चाष्टौ दण्डपाशातिभीषणाः॥५१.

From her grandsons are born hundreds of thousands of Līkās, and eight castes of outcastes, terrifying with staff and noose.

क्षुधाविष्टास्ततो लीकास्ताश्च चण्डालयोनयः । अभ्यधावन्त चान्योन्यमत्तुकामाः परस्परम्॥५१.

Then, seized by hunger, those lice of the outcaste lineage rushed at one another, each desiring to devour the other.

प्रचण्डो वारियित्वा तु तास्ताश्चण्डालयोनयः । समये स्थापयामास यादृशे तादृशं शृणु॥५१.

But Pracanda restrained those lice of the outcaste lineage and established a rule among them; listen to what that rule was.

अद्यप्रभृति लीकानामावासं यो हि दास्यति । दण्डं तस्याहमतुलं पातयिष्ये न संशयः॥५१.

From this day forward, whoever gives shelter to lice, I will inflict upon him a severe punishment—of this there is no doubt.

चण्डालयोन्योऽवसथे लीका या प्रसविष्यति । तस्याश्च सन्तिः पूर्वा सा च सद्यो नशिष्यति॥५१.

If lice of the outcaste lineage give birth in a dwelling, the previous infestation will be destroyed at once.

प्रसूते कन्यके द्वे तु स्त्रीपुंसोर्बोजहारिणी । वातरूपामरूपाञ्च तस्याः प्रहरणन्तु ते॥५१.

She gives birth to two daughters, one who steals the vigor of men and women, one with the form of wind and one formless; these are her weapons.

वातरूपा निषेकान्ते सा यस्मै क्षिपते सुतम् । स पुमान् वातशुक्रत्वं प्रयाति वनितापि वा॥५१.

At the end of conception, the wind-formed one, to whomever she casts her offspring, that man becomes possessed by wind-semen, and so too does the woman.

तथैव गच्छतः सद्यो निर्बोजत्वमरूपया । अस्नाताशी नरो यो वै तथैव पिशिताशनः॥५१.

Likewise, the formless one immediately causes loss of vigor to anyone she approaches, especially a man who eats flesh, eats without bathing, or eats improperly.

विद्वेषिणी तु या कन्या भृकुटीकुटिलानना । तस्या द्वौ तनयौ पुंसामपकारप्रकाशकौ॥५१.

But the daughter who is hostile, with a frowning, crooked face, has two sons among men who are known for causing harm.

निर्बोजत्वं नरो याति नारी वा शौचवर्जिता । पैशुन्याभिरतं लोलमसज्जननिषेवणम्॥५१.

A man or woman who lacks purity, who delights in slander, who is fickle and associates with the wicked, becomes deprived of vigor.

पुरुषद्वेषिणञ्चैतौ नारमाक्रम्य तिष्ठतः । मात्रा भ्रात्रा तथा मित्रैरभीष्टैः स्वजनैः परैः॥५१.

These two seize a man who hates others, whether it be his mother, brother, friends, loved ones, relatives, or outsiders.

विद्विष्टो नाशमायाति पुरुषो धर्मतोर्ऽथतः । एकस्तु स्वगुणांल्लोके प्रकाशयति पापकृत्॥५१.

A man who is hated perishes, whether in righteousness or in wealth; but one alone, by his own qualities, reveals the deeds of the wicked in the world.

द्वितीयस्तु गुणान् मैत्रीं लोकस्थामपकर्षति । इत्येते दौः सहाः सर्वे यक्ष्मणः सन्ततावथ । पापाचाराः समाख्याता यैर्व्याप्तमखिलं जगत्॥५१.

The second draws away the virtues, friendship, and social standing of others; thus, all these evil companions are the progeny of disease, whose wicked conduct fills the whole world.

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच--- भगवन् !कथितं सर्वं विस्तरेण त्वया मम । स्वरोचिषस्तु चरितं जन्म स्वारोचिषस्य तु ।। 68.

Kraustuki said: O venerable one, you have described to me in detail the entire story, including the deeds and birth of Svarocisha.

या तु सा पद्मिनी नाम विद्या भोगोपपादिका । तत्संश्रयां ये निधयस्तान् मे विस्तरतो वद ।। 68.

Now, that knowledge called Padmini, which bestows enjoyment—tell me in detail about the treasures associated with it.

अष्टौ ये निधयस्तेषां स्वरूपं द्रव्यसंस्थितिः । भवताभिहितं सम्यक् श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं गुरो ।। 68.

There are eight treasures—describe to me, O teacher, their forms, their substance, and their nature, as you know them.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच--- पद्मिनी नाम या विद्या लक्ष्मीस्तस्याश्च देवता । तदाधाराश्च निधयस्तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ।। 68.

Markandeya said: That knowledge called Padmini is Lakshmi herself, and the treasures are her abodes; listen as I explain them to you.

यत्र पद्ममहापद्मौ तथा मकरकच्छपौ । मुकुन्दो नन्दकश्चैव नीलः शङ्खोऽष्टमो निधिः ।। 68.

Among them are the Padma and Mahapadma, as well as the Makara and Kacchapa; Mukunda, Nandaka, Nila, and the Shankha are the eighth treasure.

सत्यामृद्धौ भवन्त्येते सिद्धिस्तेषां हि जायते । एते ह्रष्टौ समाख्याता निधयस्तव क्रौष्टुके ।। 68.

When prosperity is present, these exist in fullness, and success arises from them; these eight treasures have been described to you, O Kraustuki.

देवातानां प्रसादेन साधुसंसेवनेन च । एभिरालोकितं वित्तं मानुषस्य सदा मुने ।। 68.

O sage, by the grace of the gods and by association with the virtuous, a person's wealth is always seen to arise in these ways.

यादृक्् स्वरूपं भवति तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु । पद्मो नाम निधिः पूर्वं स यस्य भवति द्विज ।। 68.

Hear from me, in detail, what its nature is: formerly, there was a treasure called Padma; whoever possesses it, O twice-born,

सुतस्य तत्सुतानाञ्च तत्पैत्राणाञ्च नित्यशः । दाक्षिण्यसारः पुरुषस्तेन चाधिष्ठितो भवेत् ।। 68.

for his son, his son's sons, and their descendants, that man is always endowed with generosity and is governed by it.

सत्त्वाधारो महाभोगो यतोऽसौ सात्त्विको निधिः । सुवर्णरूप्यताम्रादिधातूनाञ्च परिग्रहम् ।। 68.

That treasure is based in sattva, of great enjoyment, for it is a sattvic treasure; it brings the acquisition of gold, silver, copper, and other metals.

करोत्यतितरां सोऽथ तेषाञ्च क्रयाविक्रयम् । करोति च तथा यज्ञान् दक्षिणाञ्च प्रयच्छति ।। 68.

He engages greatly in buying and selling those, and also performs sacrifices and gives gifts.

सभां देवनिकेतांश्च स कारयति तन्मनाः । सत्त्वाधारो निधिश्चान्यो महापद्म इति श्रुतः ।। 68.

With that intent, he builds assemblies and temples for the gods; another treasure, called Mahāpadma, is also based in sattva.

सत्त्वप्रधानो भवति तेन चाधिष्ठितो नरः । करोति पद्मरागादिरत्नानाञ्च परिग्रहम् ।। 68.

A man governed by it becomes predominated by sattva, and acquires gems such as padmarāga and others.

मौक्तिकानां प्रवालानां तेषां च क्रयविक्रयान् । ददाति योगशीलेभ्यस्तेषामावसथांस्तथा ।। 68.

He buys and sells pearls and corals, and provides dwellings for those devoted to yoga.